As parents ourselves, we understand that nothing is more distressing than seeing your child in pain. At Parrish DeVaughn, we provide compassionate legal support to families in Oklahoma City facing the aftermath of serious accidents and injuries their child has suffered. Our attorneys will work tirelessly to secure the compensation your family needs while you focus on what matters most—your child’s recovery.
How Child Injuries Happen in Oklahoma City
Children can be full of energy, relentlessly curious about the world, and not always the best judges when it comes to safety and precautions. There are many settings where children can be hurt, often due largely to the negligence of others, including:
- Schools, daycares, and playgrounds where inadequate supervision may lead to preventable accidents
- Swimming pools and trampolines that may qualify as “attractive nuisances” when proper safety measures aren’t in place to prevent children from easily accessing them
- Healthcare settings where mistakes by medical professionals can cause harm
- Private homes, including friends’ houses or relatives’ properties
- Roadways on which bus accidents, car crashes, bicycle incidents, or pedestrian injuries may occur
Many parents are surprised to learn that injuries in these settings may warrant legal action when another person or party’s negligence is involved. While pursuing a legal case while simultaneously helping your child recover from their injury may be daunting, the personal injury attorneys at Parish DeVaughn are here to help you through the process and take as much stress off your plate as we can.
Common Types of Child Injuries in Oklahoma
Our Oklahoma City attorneys regularly represent families whose children have suffered from:
- Slip-and-fall injuries resulting in broken bones or head trauma
- Sports injuries from inadequate coaching and supervision or unsafe equipment
- Drowning or near-drowning incidents in pools without proper barriers or lifeguards
- Dog bites from unrestrained or poorly supervised animals
- Burns from hot liquids, exposed heating elements, or chemicals
- Prescription drug injuries from medication errors
- Choking hazards from toys with small parts or inadequate warnings
- Injuries from other defective products designed for children
Each of these situations presents unique legal challenges that require careful investigation and documentation. Our legal team has the experience and knowledge necessary to work through each of these types of cases with the parents in our community who need a legal advocate. If this sounds like you or any of the above cases reflects your and your child’s experience, don’t hesitate to reach out to us today.
Who’s Liable for Your Child’s Injury?
Determining liability in child injury cases often involves identifying multiple potentially responsible parties:
- Property owners who fail to address dangerous conditions
- School districts that don’t provide adequate supervision or safe facilities
- Caregivers who neglect their duty to watch children carefully
- Healthcare providers who make preventable medical errors
- Product manufacturers who design or sell unsafe children’s items
- Bus drivers who operate vehicles carelessly
- Other motorists who drive recklessly around children
Oklahoma law holds these parties to a higher standard of care when children are involved, reflecting society’s special duty to protect our youngest citizens.
Proving Negligence in a Child Injury Case
Successfully pursuing compensation requires establishing four key elements of negligence:
- Duty of care – The responsible party had an obligation to ensure your child’s safety.
- Breach of duty – They failed to meet this obligation through action or inaction.
- Causation – This failure directly led to your child’s injury.
- Damages – Your child and family suffered measurable harm as a result.
For example, drivers have a legal obligation to come to a complete stop at stop signs, check for pedestrians, and let them cross if any are present. Merely slowing down at a stop sign isn’t enough. If a driver hits a pedestrian at an intersection and injures them, they have breached their duty of care.
It’s important to note that when children are involved, Oklahoma law generally imposes a heightened duty of care. This means parties interacting with children must take extra precautions beyond what would be expected with other adults.
For example, this can mean drivers have an obligation to watch for child pedestrians who may cross the road even when no stop signs are present when in areas where they know children may be present.
The Oklahoma City child injury lawyers at Parrish DeVaughn understand these legal nuances and can help build a compelling case that demonstrates negligence contributed to your child’s suffering.
Getting Compensation for Your Injured Child
The financial impact of a child’s injury often extends far beyond initial medical bills. Our attorneys work to secure compensation that addresses both current and future needs:
- Immediate and ongoing medical expenses
- Physical, pediatric occupational, and psychological rehabilitation
- Special education services required due to injury-related disabilities
- Additional caregiving costs when injuries require extra supervision
- Potential lost earning capacity for permanent disabilities
- Pain and suffering compensation for physical and emotional distress
- Accommodation costs for permanent disabilities
We understand that children’s injuries present unique challenges because the full impact may not be apparent for years. Our team works with medical experts to accurately project future needs and ensure any settlement adequately provides for your child’s lifetime requirements.
Parrish DeVaughn Fights for Injured Children
When you choose our firm, you gain advocates who approach child injury cases with both legal skills and parental perspectives. We distinguish ourselves through:
- Knowledge of the unique aspects of child injury law in Oklahoma
- A family-first philosophy that prioritizes your child’s wellbeing
- Careful calculation of long-term damages to ensure comprehensive compensation
- Skilled negotiation with insurance companies who may otherwise undervalue your claim
- Willingness to take your case to trial when fair settlement offers aren’t forthcoming
Our attorneys handle the legal complexities while you concentrate on your child’s recovery, providing regular updates and answering your questions throughout the process.
Let Us Help Your Family in Oklahoma City
If your child has suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, don’t face this challenging time alone. Contact us today for a free consultation. Our compassionate team is ready to listen to your story, explain your options, and help your family move forward. There’s no fee unless we win your case.
Your family deserves justice and the resources needed for recovery. Contact us today to learn how we can help your family during this difficult time.
